2023 AFC South Rankings: Do the Jaguars Have the Top WR Room?
The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to make team history in 2023.
The last time the Jaguars won back-to-back divisional titles was in 1998 and 1999, when the AFC South wasn't yet formed. The Houston Texans weren't a franchise and the Jaguars shared the AFC Central with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Oilers/Titans, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Since the Jaguars' migration to the newly-formed AFC South in 2002, the Jaguars have won two AFC South titles in 2017 and 2022. While every other franchise has won back-to-back divisional titles at some point in the division's history, the Jaguars will be looking to do it for the first time this season.
In our preview of the Jaguars' search for another AFC South title, we are going to do a list of rankings of the top positions and units in the division ahead of the 2023 season.
Next up: the wide receiver units.
So, which team has the best projected starting wide receiver rooms for 2023 and which teams are lagging behind? We break it down below.
Related: 2023 AFC South Rankings: Who Falls Behind Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence in QB Hierarchy?
1) Jacksonville Jaguars
It is near impossible not to have the Jaguars in the top spot here. From top to bottom, the Jaguars have a deep and versatile wide receiver room, just years after having one of the NFL's weakest units. It took some big moves, high-dollar contracts and trades to make it happen, but the Jaguars' starting trio of Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones is the best in the division, while the Jaguars also have depth in Jamal Agnew, Tim Jones, and sixth-round rookie Parker Washington.
While some may have questions about Ridley's influence on this ranking, it is easy to say he is the deciding factor here as long as he plays up to his ability and his pre-2021 production. Ridley looked like he was in peak shape during offseason workouts and has drawn rave reviews from the staff and locker room so far. Combine him with two receivers who are fresh off career years in Kirk and Jones and the Jaguars have the best receiver room in the AFC South.
2) Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have a solid starting trio in Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and rookie receiver Josh Downs. They likely aren't far off from the Jaguars for the top spot, though the Jaguars' overall ceiling of their room gives them the edge. Pittman Jr. is a good receiver and one of the three best in the AFC South, but he may not have the ceiling of Calvin Ridley, for example.
Still, the Colts have some solid overall depth thanks to the Downs selection and the addition of Isaiah McKenzie, while Ashton Dulin has flashed in limited action over the last two years. The receiver room is certainly improved for the Colts in 2023, putting them just below the Jaguars in depths of overall talent.
3) Houston Texans
The Texans have revamped their wide receiver room this offseason, adding interesting names like Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson along with veterans like Noah Brown and Robert Woods. Add in former second round pick John Metchie and rising receiver Nico Collins and the Texans have some solid depth at the wide receiver position.
The issue with the Texans is that they don't currently have an alpha dog at the receiver position, at least not in the same caliber as the Colts and Jaguars have. Collins is likely their best wide receiver and certainly has the best ceiling, but he is a far cry from Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, and Michael Pittman. It is an interesting room, but it could use a blue-chipper.
4) Tennessee Titans
It is hard to get excited about what the Titans are trotting out at wide receiver in 2023. Just years after having one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL in Corey Davis and A.J. Brown, the Titans are starting from scratch after misses at the position like Julio Jones.
The key to this room is clearly 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks. The No. 18 pick and former Arkansas star flashed big-play ability but ultimately played in just 11 games, recording 33 catches for 444 yards and one touchdown. He is expected to take a leap in 2023, but it will have to be a big one considering the Titans' depth otherwise is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Phillips, Racey McMath, Colton Dowell, and Jacob Copeland.
